Foldable stand for musical instruments



Dec. 13, 1932. J. GANSON FOLDABLE STAND FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FiledOct. 27. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invcnlor Dec. 13, 1932. J. GANSONFOLDABLE STAND FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 27, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 13, 1932. J. GANSON FOLDABLE STAND FOR MUSICALINSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 27. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Invenlor /pTyyeZ G 81230 2 By @maodh flllomey Patented Dec. 13, 1932 PATENT OPZFI'CE mssnLEWIS unison,

F WALLACE, KANSAS FOLDAIBI'E STAN D FOB MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Applicationfiled october 27, 1981. Serial No. 571,434.

This invention relates to a novel collapsible or foldable standexpressly designed to serve.

as a convenient holder for a plurality of musical instruments.

Visualized more specifically, the invention comprehends a novelknock-down portable stand characterized by a plurality of readilydistinguishable holders especially designed and fashioned to support acombination of musical instruments suchas for example a violin and itsbow, a. clarinet, and a saxaphone.

It is a matter of common knowledge to those skilled in this particularline of endeavor that present day musicians in order to be successfulmust be of a; versatile type,

capable of performing proficiently on a number of different kinds ofmusical instruments. For example, in modern dance bands and orchestrasas well as regulation theatre orchestras, many musicians are called uponto double \on closely allied, and sometimes remotely differentinstruments. For instance, a violinist frequently lays a saxophone anddoubles on a clarinet, and be- A cause of the ever changingcharacteristics of musical compositions used for dance and stage work,the instrument must be supported in an orderly manner within convenientreach of the player to facilitate selection, use and replacement.

Obviously, this requires the provision of a practical stand havingexpeditiously usable holders. The idea of a multiple holder is notbroadly new. Admittedly then, the present invention has to do with therovision of a structure whlch is believ to be an improved contributionto the art in that it is characterized by structural in dividuality andmany. appreciable refinements as contrasted 'toknown stands em- 17ployed for this purpose.

. One advantage is'predicated upon the provision of a quick foldablestructure capable of expeditious collapsing for easy transportation andhandling, and equally capable of rapid erection for expeditious use.

In carrying the inventive iconception into actual practice, I haveevolvedand produced a structure which will, accomplish the afore-.

said results, and which is susceptible of fulfilling the requirements ofa stand of this class in a practical and successful manner.

'. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a pers ective view of the complete stand set up or useshowing several instruments (in dotted lines) in suspended positionready for selection and use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the instruments removed and partsof the stand 5 collapsed into a compact package for conyenient carryingin a conventional musical instrument case.

Figure 3 is a detail 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken approximately on the plane of the line 4-4of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken somewhat on the plane of the line-55 ofFigure 1 with the parts in section and elevation.

Figure 6 is a section through the base, the section being on the line6'6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the foldable parts of the base.

meralfi'is composed of three primary parts;

section on the line The base, generally designated by the nunamely, arectangular plate 9 and a pair of duplicate foldable supporting arms'orrests 10 and 11respectively. Each arm is somewhat channel-shaped incross-sectional shape and provided at opposite ends with blocks 12constituting feet to engage the floor. The plate 9 is providedwithlongitudinallyelongated edge slots 13 and 14 res'pectively, the slot 13serving to accommo-' date the arm 10 ahd the slot 14 the arm 11.

7 Each arm is provided with a headed bolt 15 as seen in Figure 6 passingthrough the complemental slot and provided with a thumb nut 16 and aretention coiled spring This connection has a three fold purpose. Itprovides a pivot for the arm, allowing it to be folded beneath the plate9, and provides a means for permitting the space between the respectivearms to be regulated by adjusting the arms, and the spring and 'bolt'arrangement provides a frictional retainer for holding the arm in setposition.

The plate 9 is also formed with an interi the slot 18 through the mediumof a fastening screw and washer 21. This block has a horizontal boreserving as a bearing for-the laterally directed lower end 22 of asupporting rod 23, and is further provided with an upstanding groovedlug 24 which serves as a keeper seat for holding the rod inperpendicular position. v

The portion 22 serves as a journal and extends through and beyond thebearing block where it is provided with a terminal abutment washer 25and a sustaining expansion spring 26. This is a coil spring surroundingthe journal and bearing at one end aga nst the block and at the oppositeend against the washer. Thus, the vertical portion of the rod 23 isyieldably held in the keeper seat 24 when the holder is in position.When the holder is not in use and folded down against the base, as seenin Figure 2, the spring allows the rod to snap out of the seat 24 in anobvious manner.

Theupper portion of this rod is provided with a claw 27 suitably coveredand shaped to embrace the neck of the violin just beneath the scrolledpeg box. One arm of the claw is formed with a finger extension 28suitably shaped to serve as a hanger for the violin how 29. The numeral30 merely designates an additional ornamental covering used forprotective purposes to prevent marring of the instrument.

In Figure 1, the numeral 31 designates a conventional saxophone, such asfor example an E-flat alto, and this has its individual rack so that itmay be supported conveniently in the position shown in this figure. Therack comprises a longitudinally curved bar 32 of rectan lar crosssection having its upper end bi urcated, the furcations being denoted bythe numerals 33. These furcations carry a pivot pin on which anattaching ear 34 carried by the intermediate portion of the fork- 35, ismounted. This fork is suitably shaped to embrace the bell of theinstrument. The fork is pivotally mounted between the furcations 33 insuch a way that it may be swung into close proximity of the base whennot in use as depicted in Figure 2, or it can be swung back to asupporting position when the rack is erected for use.

Directing attention to Figure 5, I call attention to a short standard 36having a base flange 37 fastened by a screw 38 in such a manneras topermit it to be slid back and forth n the slot. Secured by a couplingpin 39 between ears on the upper end of the standard is a'union 40 whichhas swivel connection at 41 with the lower end of the rod 32, and apolygonal sleeve 42 is slidably arranged here so as to couple the rod 32to the standard 36 to provide a rigid temporary connection. It isevident however that by sliding the sleeve 42 up beyond the upper end ofthe standard 36, the hinge joint between the parts 36 and 40 is exposedto allow the rack to be folded down against the base. In fact, bysliding the sleeve still further up, the swivel joint is renderedeffective to permit the rod 32 and fork 35 to be turned as a unit toposition the fork in the desired direction with respect to theperformer.

I now call attention to the device or appurtenance used on the base forsupporting the clarinet 43 shown in Figure 1. Incidently, I would liketo mention that this same device is usable elficiently in supporting astraight soprano saxophone such as for example a C-natural saxophone,and it may be also employed to support a trumpet. Broadly it comprises aslidable foldable frusto-conical receiver 44 suitably covered to protectthe plating of the instrument.

In this position, and having this shape, it fits snugly as a core in thebell of the instrument as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 4, I have shown the preferred embodiment thereof and it willbe seen that the body portion is formed with a socket 45 having aclosing plug 46 in its upper end. The lower portion of the body iscentrally bored, and the bore communicates with the socket. A sectionalconnecting member is provideda'nd, the lower section 47 has a flange 48attached by a fastening 49 to the slotted portion of the plate 9.

The upper section, which is in the nature of an elongated stem or rod 50is pivotally connected at 51 to the lower section, the pivot occurringin the intermediate portion of the bore. There is a head 52 on the upperend of this rod and this serves as an abutment for one end of the coiledspring 53, the

spring being confined in the socket.

In order to fold the holder 44 from the position shown in full lines inFigure 4 to the dotted line position, it is necessary to catch hold ofit and lift it up against the tension of the spring 53 until the hingedjoint 51 is exposed and this allows the joint to collapse and permitfolding.

The co-relative position of parts shown in Figure 1 when the stand is inuse, and the intimate relation is shown in Figure 2 when the parts arecollapsed or folded when the stand 1s ready to be placed in theperformers case for transportation. The swingable rest or arms 10 and 11are foldable underneath the base plate 9 and are of proportions to foldwithin the confines or limits of said plate for compactness andconvenience. Likewise, all three of the instrument holders may be swungdown in an orderly manner against the top of the plate in propersuccession and order so as to convert the structure from the positionseen in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2, and as before statedin the latter position the stand constitutes a novel compact unit forhandy transportation and subsequent expeditious erection.

In interpreting the structure, it will be observed that there arecertain common characteristics which add to the intimacy of relationshipof parts. For example, the devices 10 and 11 constituting the supportingarms or rests for the base plate are duplicate and interchangeable.Moreover the various instrument supports individually areinterchangeable with respect to the slots 18, thus permitting the orderto be arranged to suit the convenience of the player. Thus, eachinstrument support comprises a foldable upright having a flanged lowerend portion with a part extending slidably through the slot 18 and astandard type fastening screw to provide the connection between saidpart and the plate 9. Consequently the diversified construction of thedevice adapts it nicely to a versatile performer.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided thatsuch changes fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A multiple instrument stand of the class described comprising a baseplate formed adjacent its longitudinal edges with elongated slots, apair of duplicate arms being adapted to occupy positions intersectingthe longitudinal axis of said plate when the latter is in use, and saidarms being proportioned to fold beneath and within the limits of themarginal edges of said plate when not in use, and said plate beingformed between said first named slots with a longitudinally elongatedcentral slot, and a plurality of instrument supports adjustably mountedin said lastnamed slot and including instrument holders foldable intoclose proximity with said plate when not in use.

2. A stand of the class described comprising a base, a bearing block onsaid base, a rod having a laterally directed lower end constituting ajournal, said journal being mounted rockably in said bearing block, saidbearing block having a grooved lug constituting a keeper seat forco-operation with an adjacent portion of the rod to hold it inperpendicular supporting position,'the terminal of said journal beingformed with a stop element, a coiled spring surrounding said terminalend and engaging the stop element at one end and the block at itsopposite end to hold said rod yieldably and releasably insaid seat, andthe upper end of said rod being formed with a claw one portion of whichis formed with an extension finger, said claw and finger serving as adual hanger for a violin and bow.

'3. A saxophone rack of the class described comprising a base includinga plate, a standard slidably mounted on said plate, a bar member, aunion interposed between the bar member and standard, said union beingpivotally connected with said standard and swivelly connected with saidbar member, and a sleeve slidably mounted on the standard, union and barmember for the purpose specified, said bar member being formed at itstop with a pivotally mounted fork to embrace the bell end of asaxophone.

4. In a stand structure of the class described, a base plate, asubstantially frustoconical covered body constituting a receiver for amusical instrument and formed with a socket and a communicatinglongitudinal bore, a headed rod slidable in said socket and bore, aspring surrounding said rod and confined in the socket bearing at oneend against the bottom of the socket and the opposite end against thehead of the rod, and a companion member projecting into said bore andpivotally connected with said rod member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JESSE LEWIS GANSON.

